The Bryce Crawford Podcast

Episode 175: Overcoming Anxiety

Released: January 12, 2026
Host: Bryce Crawford (Solo Episode)

Episode Overview

In this episode—Bryce’s first solo installment of 2026—he candidly explores the topic of anxiety through a Christian lens. Drawing from personal experience, scriptural wisdom (primarily Matthew 6), and pastoral encouragement, Bryce addresses common misconceptions around anxiety, challenges the shame often connected to it, and offers practical spiritual strategies for overcoming it. His tone is empathetic, honest, and grounded in faith, seeking to uplift listeners burdened by anxious thoughts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Topic: Personal & Scriptural Context

• Bryce opens by sharing his excitement for solo episodes, emphasizing intimacy with listeners and the opportunity to dive deep into meaningful topics.
• He introduces anxiety as a universal struggle, citing both personal experience and the wisdom of Solomon:
  • “Even the wisest man to ever live on earth outside of Jesus, Solomon even wrote himself, 'anxiety weighs a man's heart down.' And when I hear that, I'm just like, man, how true is that?” (01:10)

2. Re-examining “Do Not Be Anxious”: Misinterpretations & Compassion

• Bryce reflects on how Matthew 6’s call to not be anxious is often used to shame, not help, Christians.
• He recalls feeling inadequate when taught that struggling with anxiety was a personal or spiritual failure:
  • “The way that it was communicated was to make me feel bad as a human being… I must be hardwired wrong, or God must have screwed up when he made me because I struggle with anxiety or depression. And that is a total lie from the pit of hell.” (03:13 – 03:26)
• Stresses that Jesus's teaching is not about condemnation:
  • “Jesus is rather saying, hey, you don't have to be anxious. Actually, I know the amount of hairs on your head. I know things about you that you've never shared with anyone. You don't have to be anxious. You're putting this unnecessary pressure on yourself.” (07:01)

3. The Roots of Anxiety: Perspective and Pressures

• Explores why anxiety surfaces—often due to feeling overwhelmed by “mountains” of responsibilities, confrontations, or problems.
• Emphasizes that anxiety stems from self-reliance and trying to handle everything alone:
  • “We look at a mountain of issues… and that creates anxiety. This unease, this feeling of, I can't do this, this pressure, this weight on your chest that you can't seem to scrape off.” (05:19)
• Highlights that even a “mustard seed of faith” can effect monumental change and that trusting in God offers a better way to cope.

4. Jesus’s Analogies: Birds of the Air and Lilies of the Field

• Breaks down Jesus’s teaching:
  • If God cares for birds and flowers—things not made in His image—how much more will He care for us?
  • “God created everything in beauty and splendor. Animals, creation, colors, flowers... but not as valuable as you and me because we're made in his image.” (08:30)
• Encourages listeners to stop anxiety about external things (appearance, relationships, etc.) and rest in their inherent God-given worth:
  • “You don't have to be anxious about being someone that you're not just to impress your crush. Be who God has made you to be. Embrace the beauty that God has instilled in your character.” (09:41)

5. Seek First the Kingdom: Refocusing Priorities

• Identifies misplaced priorities as anxiety’s fuel:
  • “You know another reason why we tend to get anxious? Because we worry about everything other than the kingdom of heaven.” (10:27)
• Urges listeners to focus on God, not just the demands and anxieties of daily life, and to pray for wisdom and strength:
  • “Sink first the Lord in his wisdom… God help me prepare for this quiz. God, thank you that you've given me the ability to get an education…” (11:04)

6. Anxiety & Faith: The Real Battle

• Defines anxiety as “faith in ourselves rather than faith in God,” reiterating Jesus’s “O you of little faith.”
  • “Anxiety is faith in ourselves rather than faith in God…” (11:34)
  • “Your anxiety is stuff that God can handle that God actually already has handled in his hand. But you've taken it out of his hand and put it on your shoulders, no wonder you're being crushed.” (12:01)

7. Chemical Imbalance, Medication, and God’s Healing

• Addresses anxiety as sometimes more than spiritual—a “chemical imbalance” or clinical issue. Shares his personal healing, but admits others’ journeys differ.
• Explains that God can heal supernaturally, through wise doctors, medication, counseling, or by allowing a “thorn” to keep us humble and dependent.
  • “Sometimes God supernaturally takes away people's anxiety… Sometimes God gives wisdom to the right doctors to prescribe the right amount of medication… But lastly… maybe God is allowing pressure in your life as a thorn in your side to keep you humble and reliant on God.” (13:00 – 14:41)

8. The Purpose of Pressure: Dependency on God

• Suggests that God may allow ongoing struggles so we continue to rely on Him—rooted in love, not punishment:
  • “And maybe if he didn't allow the pressure, you wouldn't need God in the first place. And God is so jealous, he's willing to allow pressure in your life that keeps you humble and reliant on Him.” (15:21 – 15:27)

9. The Invitation: Cast Your Cares, Trust His Character

• Quotes Paul’s instruction to “cast all your anxieties on the Lord.”
• Contrasts the character of Jesus with that of other faith traditions, emphasizing Jesus proved Himself worthy of trust by His actions and sacrificial life:
  • “He is worthy of being trusted. He's worthy of being loved. Through his life and his actions, he has deemed himself one worthy of falling on your face and easy saying, God, I trust you with this thing.” (15:39 – 16:12)

10. Reframing the Conversation: From "But God, Why?" to "But God, Thank You"

• Challenges listeners to shift perspective from resentment over anxiety (“But God, why?”) to gratitude and trust (“But God, thank you…”):
  • “Maybe it should be, 'But, God, thank you that I can trust you and love you and that you deal with these things for me.'” (16:22)
• Encourages looking to God for step-by-step help, not just being intimidated by the size of the problem:
  • “Let me look at your feet and give me step by step on how I deal with this.” (16:50)

11. Honest Self-Reflection and Prayer

• Suggests that anxiety’s root is “selfishness”—holding onto self-reliance at the expense of trust in God.
  • “Anxiety is selfish… there's something inside of you that is trying to do it out of your own strength, out of your own wisdom.” (17:08)
• Invites listeners to get honest with God, admit self-reliance hasn’t worked, and to pray for help.
• Concludes with a heartfelt prayer, asking for God’s presence, wisdom, and strength:
  • “Jesus, I thank you for everyone watching and listening… God, may we be sheep that lean on the staff of our shepherd… Give us strength to trust in you with everything we have in our life… In Jesus's name, Amen.” (17:52 – End)

Memorable Quotes

• “Anxiety can feel like this inescapable, incurable disease that can't be conquered, that can never be fixed, only numbed, like alcohol, like Advil does with pain, but with other things, whether it be medication or addictions or sin.” (01:28)
• “Jesus is rather saying, hey, you don't have to be anxious. Actually, I know the amount of hairs on your head… You're putting this unnecessary pressure on yourself.” (07:01)
• “No wonder you got the weight on your chest. And Jesus says, man, if you just have a little bit of faith, you can…. move a mountain.” (06:18)
• “Anxiety is faith in ourselves rather than faith in God.” (11:34)
• “Your anxiety is stuff that God can handle… but you've taken it out of his hand and put it on your shoulders, no wonder you're being crushed.” (12:01)
• “Sometimes God supernaturally takes away people's anxiety… Sometimes God gives wisdom to the right doctors… But lastly… maybe God is allowing pressure in your life as a thorn in your side to keep you humble and reliant on God.” (14:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 – 01:28 – Bryce introduces anxiety, referencing Solomon and personal struggles.
• 02:19 – 03:26 – Reexamining the “do not be anxious” command; confronting church shame.
• 05:19 – 06:18 – Anxiety as a response to life’s “mountain” of problems; importance of perspective and faith.
• 07:01 – 08:42 – Birds and lilies: God’s care and our value.
• 09:41 – 10:27 – Appearance, relationships, and anxiety about fitting in.
• 10:27 – 11:12 – Seeking God’s kingdom before all else; shifting priorities in daily stress.
• 11:34 – 12:01 – Anxiety as misplaced faith in self.
• 12:43 – 13:00 – Addressing anxiety as a clinical or spiritual issue; personal story of deliverance.
• 14:00 – 15:27 – God’s sovereignty in allowing pressure and trials.
• 15:39 – 16:12 – Jesus’s trustworthiness through his sacrificial life.
• 16:22 – 16:50 – Gratitude over questioning: “But God, thank you…”
• 17:08 – 18:28 – Final thoughts, honesty with God, and prayer.

Tone, Style, and Final Reflection

Bryce’s tone is deeply compassionate, honest, and pastoral. He affirms that anxiety is a real struggle but not a source of shame or divine disfavor. Through personal anecdotes, clear scriptural insight, and spiritual encouragement, he urges listeners to reframe their anxiety—not as failure, but as an invitation to trust God more deeply. He balances spiritual advice with an acknowledgement of legitimate medical needs, and concludes with a powerful prayer for all listeners navigating anxious seasons.